As Gloucestershire's Christmas party season gets into full swing, police forces are reminding people 'sexual assault should not be considered part of the night out routine'.

The message is clear from the police: "It is not acceptable and there will be consequences for anyone who behaves like this in our licenced premises."

In the summer of 2017, Lottie, who was 18 at the time and from Bristol, told the police that she and her friends were routinely sexually assaulted when they went on a night out in town, Avon and Somerset Police said.

The force said: "The assaults they described ranged from bum pinching or grabbing, hands up skirts or down tops, being pushed up against the bar and assaulted from behind, being touched sexually on other parts of the body, as well as other things.

"Surveys carried out by Bristol city centre police officers on pub and club goers that sexual assault is still affecting most people who go out and that people don’t usually report it.

Lottie said: “This has happened to most of my friends at least once, and a lot of times to others. It happens most of the nights that we go out. It’s just part of the night, you think ‘I’m going out tonight, but I know that this is going to happen’. I sometimes where shorts underneath skirts.

“It makes me feel like a piece of meat. The message I get is that the people who do this are doing it because they can get away with it, and that there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s horrible, and it ruins your night out.”

Force lead for rape and sexual assault, Detective Superintendent Marie Wright, said: “The fact that Lottie and her friends expect this kind of thing to happen to them every time they go on a night out, quite frankly sickens me.

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"Remember you can tell the bar or door staff, there and then, who can support you and take action against the person or people who assaulted you. Even if you don’t know who assaulted you, you can still tell someone and things can be done to help you.”

Police forces across the country, including Gloucestershire, will be working collaboratively with partners to promote this message.

A man is arrested (Image: stock picture)

Avon and Somerset Police are working with Bristol Women’s Voice , who are encouraging venues to sign up to the Bristol Zero Tolerance initiative, working with businesses in the night time economy to address sexual assault and harassment and to become safer spaces for those on a night out.

They said that venues who sign up their staff can received specialist Good Night Out training on how to real with harassment and assault, and how to support their customers.

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Det Supt Wright added: “Ultimately, if the people who do this know they’re likely to be kicked out, then that’s their night ruined and they may think twice about doing it again in the future.”

Lottie said: “I think with lad culture these days, this kind of behaviour can be praised almost, and they all have a laugh about it. It’s very intimidating. And if I’m with a boy when it happens, and he gets involved, it can lead to a fight, and that’s never pleasant.

“We need boys to be able to challenge other boys and say ‘that’s not acceptable, don’t do that.’”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens, said: “Firstly I would like to commend Lottie for bravely raising this issue and encouraging others to talk about it. I am saddened to hear that this sort of behaviour has become something that Lottie and her friends have come to expect on a night out.

“What they are experiencing is sexual assault. Sexual assault is a crime and will not be tolerated on any level in Avon and Somerset. No one has the right to touch another person in this way and I’m delighted the police, our partners and the local bars and clubs are coming together to tackle this unacceptable behaviour.

“Only by working together can we stop this from happening, challenge perpetrators and encourage victims to come forward and report and ultimately help to make events a better place to be for all who want to enjoy them.”

Sexual assault support

You can report a sexual assault to the police online or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress or in an emergency always call 999.